When your wisdom teeth begin to emerge, you may feel soreness in the back of your jaw. For some, they grow in without any issue. But for others, they can become a serious issue later on. In some cases, your dentist recommends extracting them. So, is wisdom teeth removal really necessary? Let’s find out.
Common Problems With Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, usually emerge between the ages of 17 and 22. But because these teeth are last to appear, your jaw may not have enough room for them to erupt properly, and that can cause problems. Your wisdom teeth may:
Remain hidden within the gums
This is one of the most common problems patients have with wisdom teeth. When they don’t have space to grow in, they remain hidden within the gums or jaw.
These impacted wisdom teeth may later cause an infection or a cyst.
Grow partially through the gums
Sometimes, a wisdom tooth only erupts partly out of the gum line or grows in at an odd angle. This might be even more problematic than a third molar that’s fully impacted.
Food bits get caught in there regularly. This causes more plaque buildup and bacteria growth. The gum tissue gets irritated, often leading to a condition called “pericoronitis”.
Crowd your healthy teeth
When wisdom teeth don’t have enough room to grow, they can push against your other teeth. This might cause your healthy teeth to shift.
Cause tooth decay
Wisdom teeth that grow in partially or at an abnormal angle are more likely to develop cavities, which can spread to nearby teeth. The main reason is that this area is very hard to clean. If a wisdom tooth is decayed, it’s a risk to your nearby teeth too.
Is It Necessary to Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?
You don’t always need to have your wisdom teeth extracted. If they grow healthy and aren’t hurting you or causing some other issue, you can keep them. However, for many adults, the issue is that their third molars are trapped under the gums, or only grow in partially, which can cause problems down the road.
Your dentist may recommend pulling your wisdom teeth if you have:
- Constant pain in the back of your jaw.
- Infection in your gums near the wisdom tooth.
- Repeated cavities.
- Damage to nearby teeth.
- Swelling in your gums or face.
- Tumors or fluid-filled sacs (cysts).
Even if you don’t feel any issues with your wisdom teeth, an X-ray may reveal otherwise. So you should get them checked as early as they appear in your mouth to prevent any issues down the road.
Final Words
Not everyone has to get their wisdom teeth pulled out. But if they’re causing you pain or other issues, your dentist may suggest extracting them. You can talk to our dentists at Anh B. Dao, DDS & Associates to learn what works best for you. Call us at (281) 992-7000 to schedule your visit.